Blueberry plant named ‘NS 16-2’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant, which is denominated varietally as ‘NS 16-2’ is described, with a medium vigor and which produces very firm fruit, which is low in acidity, under the ecological conditions prevailing in Yanchep, Western Australia.

Latin name: Vaccinium hybrid.

Variety denomination: The invention relates to a new, novel, and distinct variety of blueberry plant, a Vaccinium hybrid, with a variety denomination hereinafter as ‘NS 16-2’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 USC § 119 to Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO) Application No. 2019/1366 for Community Plant Variety Rights, filed on Jun. 5, 2019 for a blueberry plant with a variety denomination of ‘NS 16-2’, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

SUMMARY

The new variety of blueberry plant resulted from an ongoing development program of plant breeding conducted to identify such plants. The purpose of the program was to improve the commercial quality of blueberry plants and other plant species. To this end, controlled, hybrid, cross-pollinations were made in order to produce plant populations from which improved progeny were evaluated and thereafter selected.

The ‘NS 16-2’ blueberry plant was originated and selected from a population of new plants growing on the breeder's property, which is located at Yanchep Springs in Yanchep, Western Australia. The new variety of blueberry plant was derived from a controlled, hybrid, cross-pollination of the seed parent, blueberry plant ‘EB 9-4’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,334), and a pollen parent, blueberry plant ‘EB 8-50’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,357) during the 2013 growing season.

Prior Varieties. The seed parent ‘EB 9-4’ is characterized principally by a semi-upright to intermediate growth habit, a medium vigor, a very early season first pick date, and further produces large- to very-large-sized, firm, high sweetness, and low to medium acidity fruit under the ecological conditions occurring in Yanchep, Western Australia. Also, the seed parent ‘EB 9-4’ exhibits a very early date of bloom time and a last pick date in February of the following year under the ecological conditions occurring in Yanchep, Western Australia. Further, the seed parent ‘EB 9-4’ is evergreen and produces fruit on one-year-old and current season's shoots.

The pollen parent ‘EB 8-50’, on the other hand, is characterized principally by a semi-upright to intermediate growth habit, a medium vigor, a very early season first pick date, and further produces large- to very-large-sized, firm to very firm, high to very high sweetness, and low acidity fruit under the ecological conditions occurring in Yanchep, Western Australia. Also, the pollen parent ‘EB 8-50’ exhibits a very early date of bloom time and a December last pick date under the ecological conditions occurring in Yanchep, Western Australia. Further, the pollen parent ‘EB 8-50’ is evergreen and produces fruit on one-year-old and current season's shoots.

Origin. The seed from the seed parent ‘EB 9-4’ produced approximately 1,100 plants following cross-pollination. These new plants were then grown at the aforementioned property, and fruit from these new plants was first observed in 2015. A subsequent assessment of these same self-fertile, new plants conducted during the 2016 growing season led to selecting the ‘NS 16-2’ variety for additional evaluation in 2017, which led to selection for further evaluation.

Asexual Reproduction. The further evaluation included an asexual vegetative propagation, by vegetative cuttings, at Yanchep Springs in Yanchep, Western Australia. Subsequent evaluations of the newly derived plants in the 2018 growing season led to a conclusion that the ‘NS 16-2’ variety was a distinct and new variety of blueberry plant found to be true to the original plant. The new variety of blueberry plant was considered to be novel in view of its medium vigor and very firm fruit, which exhibited low acidity.

Comparisons. In comparison to the seed parent ‘EB 9-4’ under the ecological conditions occurring in Yanchep, Western Australia, both the new variety and the seed parent are considered to have a medium vigor. In addition, the seed parent produces fruit considered to be firm. In contrast, the new variety of blueberry plant produces fruit considered to be very firm. Further, the seed parent produces fruit considered to exhibit low to medium acidity. This is in contrast to the fruit of the new variety of blueberry plant, which is considered to exhibit low acidity.

In comparison to the pollen parent ‘EB 8-50’ under the ecological conditions occurring in Yanchep, Western Australia, both the new variety and the pollen parent are considered to have a medium vigor. In addition, the pollen parent produces fruit considered to be firm to very firm. In contrast, the new variety of blueberry plant produces fruit considered to be very firm. Further, both the new variety and the pollen parent produce fruit considered to exhibit low acidity.

The new variety of blueberry plant is readily distinguishable from the most closely related, known variety, the ‘NS 13-4’ blueberry plant described in U.S. Plant application Ser. No. 16/602,484, filed Oct. 17, 2019, titled “Blueberry Plant Named ‘NS 13-4’,” which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. In this regard, the closest known variety ‘NS 13-4’ has a vigor considered to be strong under the ecological conditions prevailing in Yanchep, Western Australia. In contrast, the new variety of blueberry plant has a vigor considered to be medium. In addition, the closest known variety produces medium to firm fruit. In contrast, the new variety of blueberry plant produces very firm fruit. Further, the closest known variety produces fruit having a fruit acidity considered to be medium to high. This is in contrast to the new variety, which produces low acidity fruit.

The comparisons described above are summarized in the table below.

Summary of Comparisons ‘EB 9-4’ ‘EB 8-50’ ‘NS 16-2’ ‘NS 13-4’ (Seed) (Pollen) Plant vigor Medium Strong Medium Medium Fruit firmness Very firm Medium to Firm Firm to very firm firm Fruit acidity Low Medium to Low to Low high medium

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are color photographs of the new blueberry plant ‘NS 16-2’ during the second year of growth under the ecological conditions prevailing at the breeder's property, which is located at Yanchep Springs in Yanchep, Western Australia.

FIG. 1 is a color photograph, which shows fruit, blooms, leaves, and a portion of a vegetative stem of the new blueberry plant ‘NS 16-2’, the fruit being sufficiently mature for harvesting and shipment. This photograph also depicts the very large fruit size and the color of the ripe fruit, two leaves showing the sizes and the upper and under side colorations thereof, two blooms at different stages of maturation, and additional leaves on the stem at different stages of maturation.

FIG. 2 is a color photograph, which shows the new blueberry plant ‘NS 16-2’. This photograph depicts a mature bush with ripe and unripe fruits, the very large fruit size, and the semi-upright growth habit of the bush. The ripe fruit is sufficiently mature for harvesting and shipment.

The colors in these photographs are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type. Due to variations in color printers and/or chemical development, processing and printing, the colors of the plant parts depicted in these photographs may, or may not, be accurate when compared to the actual specimen. For this reason, color references are made to the color plates (Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, Sixth Edition (2015), hereinafter, “R.H.S.”) and descriptions provided.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Not a Commercial Warranty. The following detailed description was prepared solely to comply with the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112, and does not constitute a commercial warranty (either expressed or implied) that the present variety will, in the future, display the botanical, horticultural, or other characteristics set forth herein. Therefore, this disclosure may not be relied upon to support any future legal claims including, but not limited to, breach of warranty of merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose, or non-infringement, which is directed in whole, or in part, to the present new variety of plant.

Referring more specifically to the botanical features of this new and distinct variety of blueberry plant, the following has been observed during the second year of growth under the ecological conditions prevailing at the breeder's property, which is located at Yanchep Springs in Yanchep, Western Australia.

-   Plant: General.     -   -   Vigor.—Considered medium for the species. This is comparable             to the seed parent ‘EB 9-4’, wherein the plant vigor is also             considered medium, and is comparable to the pollen parent             ‘EB 8-50’, wherein the plant vigor is likewise medium. This             is in contrast to the closest known variety ‘NS 13-4’,             wherein the plant vigor is considered strong.         -   Growth habit.—Considered semi-upright. This is in comparison             to the commercial variety ‘Bluetta’ (unpatented), which is             considered to be semi-upright.         -   Average size of plant.—1.00 meters in height by 0.70 meters             in width.         -   Internode length (space between nodes).—Considered medium,             21.8 millimeters (mm).         -   Bark color.—RHS Greyish Reddish Brown Group 174B.         -   Color, one year old shoots.—RHS Strong Yellow Green Group             N144D.         -   Fruiting type.—On one-year-old shoots and current season's             shoots, in like manner to commercial varieties ‘Concord’             (unpatented) and ‘Burlington’ (unpatented). -   Foliage: General.     -   -   Average leaf length.—Considered short to medium for the             species, 51.5 mm.         -   Average leaf width.—Considered medium for the species, 22.4             mm.         -   Color of leaf upper.—RHS Greyish Olive Green Group NN137C.         -   Color of leaf underside.—RHS Moderate Yellow Green Group             139C.         -   Vein color of plant leaf.—RHS Moderate Yellow Green Group             143D.         -   Venation pattern of leaf.—Pinnate reticulate.         -   Leaf apex texture.—Glabrous.         -   Leaf apex shape.—Acute.         -   Leaf base shape.—Acute.         -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic.         -   Leaf margin.—Entire.         -   Leaf arrangement of plant.—Alternate. -   Flowers:     -   -   Corolla shape.—Urceolate.         -   Corolla tube surface texture.—Ridges are present on the             corolla tube.         -   Average corolla length.—11 mm.         -   Corolla color.—RHS White Group NN155B.         -   Pedicel color.—RHS Strong Yellow Green Group N144C.         -   Average calyx diameter.—Considered small to medium, 5.18 mm.         -   Average calyx basin depth.—Considered very shallow, 1.57 mm. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Average size of pollen anthers.—7.09 mm.         -   Color of pollen anthers.—RHS Brownish Orange Group N167B.         -   Average pistil length.—11.58 mm.         -   Pistil color.—RHS Light Yellow Green Group 144D. -   Fruit:     -   -   Color of unripe fruit.—RHS Strong Yellow Green Group 145A.         -   Color of fruit skin.—RHS Bluish Black Group 203C, also             considered “dark blue” in like color to the commercial             variety ‘Heerma’ (unpatented), after removal of bloom.         -   Color of ripe fruit flesh.—RHS Light Yellow Green Group             145C.         -   Color of seeds.—RHS Dark Reddish Orange Group 175B.         -   Average fruit size.—Considered very large, 21 mm in diameter             and 17.67 mm in height.         -   Average weight of fruit.—3.8 grams.         -   Average fruit production.—3 kilograms on a two-year-old             bush.         -   Berry shape.—Considered oblate.         -   Sweetness when ripe.—Considered medium to high for the             species.         -   Firmness when ripe.—Considered very firm for the species.             This is in contrast to the seed parent ‘EB 9-4’, wherein the             firmness is considered firm, and the pollen parent ‘EB             8-50’, wherein the firmness is considered firm to very firm.             This is in further contrast to the closest known variety ‘NS             13-4’, wherein the firmness is considered medium to firm.         -   Acidity when ripe.—Considered low for the species. This is             in contrast to the seed parent ‘EB 9-4’, wherein the fruit             acidity is considered low to medium. This is comparable to             the pollen parent ‘EB 8-50’, wherein the fruit acidity is             also considered low. This is in contrast to the closest             known variety ‘NS 13-4’, wherein the fruit acidity is             considered medium to high.         -   Cluster density.—Considered medium dense for the species.         -   Storability of fruit.—Considered excellent for the species.         -   Market use of fruit.—1st grade fresh market fruit.         -   Date of bud burst.—This variety is a true evergreen under             the ecological conditions prevailing in Yanchep, Western             Australia.         -   Date of bloom time.—Blooms and fruits throughout the whole             of the year due to being a true evergreen, also considered             very early on one-year old shoot in like manner to the             commercial variety ‘Patriot’ (unpatented) and considered             very early on current year's shoot before the commercial             variety ‘O'Neal’ (unpatented), which is considered early.         -   Duration of bloom time and bloom intensity.—Multiple             flowerings throughout the year; bloom intensity is             considered medium.         -   Beginning of fruit ripening.—Considered very early on             one-year-old shoot in like manner to the commercial variety             ‘Bluetta’ (unpatented) and considered very early on current             year's shoot prior to the commercial variety ‘O'Neal’             (unpatented), which is considered early.         -   First pick date.—The observed date of the first pick is             approximately February under the ecological conditions             prevailing in Yanchep, Western Australia.         -   Last pick date.—The observed date of the last pick is             approximately February of the following year since this             variety is a true evergreen under the ecological conditions             prevailing in Yanchep, Western Australia, as described above             with regard to bloom time.         -   Pollination requirements.—Self-fertile.         -   Resistance to pests and disease.—No particular resistance             noted. The variety has not been tested to detect any             resistance.

Although the new variety of blueberry plant possesses the described characteristics when grown under the ecological conditions prevailing in Yanchep, Western Australia, it should be understood that variations are to be expected in the usual magnitude and characteristics incident to changes in growing conditions, fertilization, pruning, pest control, frost, climatic variables, and horticultural management. 

Having thus described and illustrated a new variety of blueberry plant, what is claimed to secure a plant Letters Patent is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant, substantially as illustrated and described, which is characterized principally as to novelty by a medium vigor and by producing fruit considered very firm and low in acidity under the ecological conditions prevailing in Yanchep, Western Australia. 